Persistence…

Want an example of persistence – tenacious persistence? The life and career of Weather Channel meteorologist Dave Schwartz, well known to weather geeks and Weather Channel watchers alike, smacks of it. Schwartz loved weather at an early age. As a child, he built a weather forecasting kit from Radio Shack that his father had bought him and watched the tornado scene from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with delight.

Schwartz’s rich history with The Weather Channel began in 1985 when he worked as a “gofer” in the newsroom. He landed the job after making a spectacle of himself by offering to clean the bathrooms for free! Schwartz wanted to learn from the best  –  no matter the cost. He worked at the network on Saturdays while working at the Fulton County Health Department Monday through Friday. On his only day off, Schwartz would come into the unoccupied studio and practice delivering forecasts in front of the camera. He eventually made it into the on-camera apprentice program, where he would be on-air from 2-3 a.m. once a week alongside an experienced on-camera meteorologist. When an on-camera position would open up, Dave would apply. After many failed attempts, in 1991 his persistence paid off - with the help of an application letter entitled, ’10 reasons why Dave Schwartz should be the next on-camera meteorologist for The Weather Channel.’

Schwartz died on July 31st at age 63 following a long and public battle with cancer. After fending off pancreatic cancer, and a subsequent remission, the longtime weatherman was diagnosed again in 2015, this time with stomach cancer. Known for his friendly on-air demeanor, he often referred to viewers as “my friend” before giving forecasts.

In March, his co-worker Bailey Rogers wrote a heartfelt tribute to Schwartz’s tenacity on the story platform Medium. He detailed the weather man’s persistence in rising up the ranks, and his enduring dedication even in the face of cancer:”Whereas many people would probably take time off, Dave prefers working at his dream job.”

It’s amazing everywhere. In today’s world, many of us live fast-paced lives. It’s easy to miss how amazing the world in which we live is. Insects, moss and lichens on rocks and telephone poles, sunrises and sunsets, the clouds…on and on. Slow yourself down this weekend. Take a yoga class, attend services, take a hike, take a nap. Do something that slows you down, so you can more easily see how amazing it is out there.

Dave Schwartz

Dave Schwartz’s dealings first showed up in an odd way. Ten years ago while applying his on-camera make-up, Dave noticed a yellow tint to his skin and the whites of his eyes that prompted him to make a doctor’s appointment. To his shock, the diagnosis was stage 2 pancreatic cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, for all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the one-year relative survival rate is 20%, and the five-year rate is 6%.

In attempt to remove the cancerous tumor, Dave underwent a procedure called the Whipple in a local hospital, but unfortunately, due to a complication, the surgery was unsuccessful. He was given just a year to live.

Instead of throwing in the towel, Dave persevered and sought treatment from the surgeon who wrote the book on the Whipple procedure — literally. This mission steered him to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where his doctor suggested chemotherapy and radiation to shrink and isolate the tumor, followed by surgery to remove what was left. The treatment was a success.

The victory, however, was short lived. Less than a year later, during routine check-ups, spots on his lungs appeared — pancreatic cancer again.

Knowing that Dave is a descendant of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe, his surgeon suggested he undergo genetic testing to check for a particular gene mutation that appears more frequently in that population. His bloodwork came back positive for the BRCA2 mutation — a good thing in this scenario. A combination of new and old generation drugs had recently been discovered as an effective treatment option for pancreatic cancer patients with that genetic mutation. Dave was no exception. He was cancer free again.

“None of us is guaranteed tomorrow – we all know that. As far as I’m concerned whether you have cancer or not, we are all in the same boat. None of us really know that we have more time than what we have right now. So I’m no different than anyone else. I have my struggle. I have my cross to bear – other people have their crosses to bear, and let’s hope that we wake up alive tomorrow.”

Dave Schwartz

Another philosophy Schwartz lived by is no “what ifs.” “It is what my wife and I decided early on — 10 years ago — when I was first diagnosed. Period. Let’s go with what we know, and that’s all there is. You can worry that 95% of people don’t live beyond a year with pancreatic cancer…what if…no…more like, what are we having for dinner?” It’s one step at a time and a “no kvetching” (yiddish for complaining) mentality in the Schwartz household.

These perspectives, coupled with his passion for weather, fueled his decision to maintain a normal work schedule at the network. “I enjoy sitting in front of a computer and digging up interesting things to pass on to viewers. I love creating stories. There are so many reasons why I enjoy coming to work. I’m going to come to work as long as I can come to work. The people are great. I love the weather. What could be bad?”

When offering his advice to people diagnosed with cancer, Dave’s advice was to “gather a support group that will rally about you and don’t be afraid to tell everyone you know because everyone knows someone who has or had cancer. There is great information out there through people you know.”

Schwartz demonstrated some of the best qualities of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People throughout his life, particularly in the way he dealt with cancer.